Dec '24 • General discussion
Buffalo Mindset
Have you ever heard the story about the cow and the buffalo when a storm is coming? It’s simple but powerful.
Picture this: A cow and a buffalo both sense a storm approaching. The cow starts running away from the storm, trying to escape. But here’s the problem—the storm catches up to the cow, and since it’s still running, it ends up staying in the storm a lot longer.
The buffalo does the opposite. It sees the storm, braces itself, and runs straight into it. By charging through, the buffalo gets through the storm faster and comes out on the other side where the sun is shining.
When I first heard this, I thought, Wow, this explains so much about life! It made me realize there have been plenty of times when I’ve been the cow, running away from hard things, and times when I’ve been the buffalo, facing things head-on.
--My Storm: Addiction
For over 20 years, I was stuck in the storm of alcohol addiction. I didn’t even realize I was in it for a long time. I’d try to stop drinking—sometimes for 30 days, sometimes for two months—but then something would come up. A wedding, a party, or just a tough day. And I’d tell myself, I’ll start again tomorrow.
But the truth is, every time I ran away from the hard choice, I stayed in the storm longer. It wasn’t until I decided to face it, to become the buffalo, that things started to change. I chose sobriety, and it’s been one of the hardest and best decisions of my life.
--Storms at Work
I’ve faced storms in other parts of my life too, like in my career. I used to work in the corporate world, climbing the ladder at Home Depot. On paper, everything looked great—I was making good money, I had status, and I was doing well. But inside, I was miserable.
I stayed in that job longer than I should have, running away from the hard truth that it wasn’t the right fit for me. Eventually, with my wife’s support, I decided to face the storm. I left that job and stepped into the unknown.
That choice led me to work on a ranch for a while, where I reconnected with myself. From there, I joined the family business and got my first taste of entrepreneurship. That decision changed my life, and I’ll always be grateful for it.
--Choosing the Buffalo Mindset
Here’s what I’ve learned: Life will always bring storms. Some are big, like addiction or career changes. Others are smaller, like daily challenges or tough conversations. But every time, we have a choice.
Are we going to run away like the cow, dragging the storm out longer? Or are we going to face it like the buffalo and get through it faster?
I’ve learned that facing the storm isn’t just about grit—it’s about growth. Running away might feel easier in the moment, but it keeps us stuck. Facing it head-on can be scary, but it leads to brighter days.
I didn’t always understand what it meant to face the storm. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I heard people tease others by calling them “cows.” I never really got it. But now, it makes sense. Being a cow means avoiding what’s hard, running from challenges, and letting fear take over.
Being a buffalo, though? That means choosing courage, growth, and resilience. It means understanding that storms are temporary, and there’s sunlight waiting on the other side.
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If this resonates with you, take a moment to think about your own life. Are there storms you’ve been running from? What would it look like to face them head-on?
Here’s an idea:
- Name Your Storm: What’s the challenge or fear you’ve been avoiding?
- Imagine Your Choices: Picture yourself as the cow and the buffalo. What happens in each scenario?
- Take One Step: What’s one small thing you can do today to start facing the storm?
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I’m still learning and growing, and I have plenty of storms to face. But each day, I remind myself to be the buffalo. Facing the hard stuff is never easy, but it’s always worth it.
Thank you for reading my story. If this spoke to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the Sober Together community. Let’s face our storms together.
We’ve got this. 🙌
Much Love,
Rey
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Buffalo Mindset
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